Assickmob to babbeb-gbeehe compawy



H. H. BARBER DIGGING MEMBER FOR DITCHING MACHINES June 19; 1928.

Re. 116,997 2 Sheets-Shee vt 1 Original Filed "May 14, 1924 [7/ es sMix/ 4?- The ts.

H. H. BARBER June 19, 1928.

DIGGING MEMBER FOR DITCHING MACHINES Re. 16,997 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 H57 er.

&z arrzga Reissued June 19, 1928.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AS SIGNOR TO BARBER-GREENE COMPANY DIGGING MEMBER FOR'DITCHING-MACHINES.

Original No. 1,623,957,

' reissue filed December 29,

. This invention relates to a digging member for ditching machines andthe like, and

. consists of an endless digging chain com-' posed of a series ofdigging buckets designed for a milling action with 1nterme late cleanerlinks pivotally connecting the buckets. The buckets and cleaner links intheir assembled or pivoted relation constitute links of the diggingchain, and the under side of the cleaner links are so constructed as toprovide proper traction means between the buckets. v

While the endless digger is susceptible of digging at an inclination, itis primarily designed tor digging in a substantially vert1- cal plane;that is, it is designed to be mounted upon a boom which has a verticaloperating position. It is impractical touse digging buckets that act asscoops and take large bites in vertical digging, since the digging chainis maintained closely at its work and cannot flex rearwardly as indigging upon an incline. Consequently, in vertical digging, the endlessdigger, to be practicable, should be so constructed as to pro- "duce aform of milling action. Forthis purpose, the' digging buckets'shouldbecomparatively closely spaced and they should be designed to make only ashallow or limited cut so that the operation of the endless digger willresemble the operation of a saw in which each tooth takes its bitethroughout the length ofthe material being sawed and carries the dustalong, so each digging element takes its bite which it must maintainfrom the bottom to the top of the ditch. Of

v course, thesoil is usually soft and the di in elements take a muchdeeper bite than the i saw.

The invention consists in the novel struchas a port on 8 that extendsrearwardly bet-ure and combination of parts hereinafter described andmore particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

1 In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of theinvention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views:

.Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing a few links of.a digging chain embodying this invention associated with a. head wheelover which the chain runs.

Figure 2 is a side elevationaliview on a smaller scaleshowing thelowerend pordated April 12, 1927, Serial No. 713,242, filed May 14, 1924.Application for k 192?. Serial No. 243,459. Y

tion of a boom chain.

Figure 3 is a front elevational. view, partly in section, of themechanism shown in Fig ure 2, illustrating a construction in which twochains may be used side by side.

Figure 4 is perspectiveview of a digging bucket illustrating the cleanerplate.

and a part of the digging F igure 5 is a perspective view of one of thedigging elements'showing diagrammati cally its relation to the soil in aworking position. I

Figure '6 is' a fragmentary rear elevational view of the chain. 7

In Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown a driven member, in the formof a sprocket wheel lwby which the digging chain is both supported anddriven. The endless digging chalnconsists of a series of digging bucketsa having bottom 'walls,'. the inner surface of which consists of a web 7of slightly arcuate form. These buckets also have side walls 4. Thebottom wall of each bucket has a plurality of digging teeth 6 of chiselform attached by bolts .6 which render the teeth indlvldually removable.The teeth on the difi'erent buckets are in staggered relation so as tocover the entire width of the trench while distributing the workingstrain and insuring a better digging action.

It desirable, the side wall of the bucketmay be extended by supplementalpieces 9 bolted to 'curved seats 4. formed upon the upper edge of theside walls by means of bolts 4". Hoods 9%, which open at the inner sideofthe walls 9, may protect the bolts 4". Between ad acent buckets 4,there ispiv oted a cleaner link 5. The cleaner link 5 is pivoted betweenthe sidewalls 4 of a bucket by means-of a pivot 3, and this cleaner linkforms a movableback therefor. This'cleaner I plate swings upon theaxisof the pivot 3 for discharging the load from the bucket as it passesover the head. sprocket. For this reason the bottom 7 offthe bucket isstruck upon a curve wit-h the-axis of pivot 3 as a center, so' thatthelower edge of the cleaner link can closely follow the contour of thebottom inits discharging movements. The cleaner link has a portionEco-planar with thepart, 8 that extends forwardly of the pivot 3 andserves as a discharge plat-form or chute over which the material isdischarged. This part 12 is provided with an opening 13 for the exit ofimpacted material between the chain and head; sprocket.

It will be noted that the discharge platform has depending-parts uponits sides forming a socket or space therebeneath'whichconstitutes atraction means whereby the chain may be propelled, as will later more,fully cleaner link.

appear. These depending'parts are bolted or pivoted to the forwardbucket by a pivot bolt 2. I

The head sprocket 1 is preferably of polygonal form'and provides smoothflat surfaces forseating the buckets as they traverse the same.Alternate flat faces are provided with tract-ion means in the form ofteeth 10 which are adapted for co-operating with the tract-ion means onthe cleaner 'links. In other words, the teeth 10 are designed forenterthe above-mentioned socket, sothat any im'- pacted material betweenthe wheel and chain may escape therethrou'gh.

The aforementioned pivot bolts 2 and may be retained by cotter pins asindicated in connection with the pivot'3, (Figure 1) and to protect thecotter pins, hoods 14 may be formed upon the bucket 4. s

In Figure 2, there is shown the lower end of a fabricated steel boom 15which is vertically disposed so. that the digging buckets will movevertically. The guide pulley for the chains is removed and a part ofthe'side wall of the boom is broken away to reveal;

the rollers 16 and 17 over which the chain links track as they travelupward at the working ply of the chain. The-bottom edges of the bucketsand cleaner links that contact with the rollers are in the form ofstraight ribs 18 and 19 tha ie in a common vertical plane when thebuckets and cleaner links are straightened out for vertical travel alongthe boom. It will be noted that the rollers 16 and 17 are only wideenough to support one rib, so that each rib travels over a separateroller. But.to insure lateral stability of the links, the .rollers 16are positioned to register withone rib of each par and the nextsucceeding rollers 17 are laterally 05- set from the rollers 16 so as'toregister with the other ribs. Thus at any particular position, the linksection is supported at oppos tecorners by one roller 16 and ;oner')ller .pivot 3 is considerably exaggerated as com- 17. The structureFigures 2 and show two endless diggers side by side which may bedesirable under certain conditions.

For further stabilizing the chain, the pivoted connections 2 areprevented from fold- 7 ingbackward toward or between the supportingrollers 16 and 17 by the provision of co-acting shouldersor abutments 20and 21 respectively formed on the bottom wall of the bucket and theforward end of the cleaner link. These shoulders are normal] in abuttingrelation when the buckets an the A,

cleaner links are in alignmentg and as these parts are in alignment whenthe buckets ascend in their digging operation, it will be so appreciatedthat the buckets will always be maintained at their work. v

I have found that certain proportions in Q the design of the digginteeth 6 will render them practically self-s arpening in s most soil andhave illustrated such proportions in the drawings. Each tooth issupported upon the casting .4, through about twothirds of itsjlength.Its cutting edge, indicated at 22 in Figure 5, is sharpened at' an angleof about 45 but the tooth is supported in the casting 4 atan angle of 40from the horizontal, leaving a clearance angle ,of about 5"v between thedirection of working travel and the beveled end of the tooth. I- havefound'that upon making the tooth considerably thicker than this thefrictional wear upon this beveled end is not suflicient to maintain asharp cutting edge at 22, while if the tooth is more sharply beveled ormade thinner its cutting edge lacks the necessary stability; thefrictional wear on the beveled end of but with the proportions shown thetooth is found to be just about sufiicient I -to maintain a fairly sharpedge without repeated regrinding.

The particular tooth shown in Figure 5 is one-of the outside teeth ofthe chain having a lateral cutting edge 23, which extends slightlybeyond any part of the supporting bucket casting 4 to insure cleaning upthe side walls of the trench as it is formed while avoiding any unduefriction between the side walls and the non-cutting portion ofthebucket. As indicated ingFigure- 1, the side walls 9 of the bucketsarealso formed with sharpened upper edges 24 which act to some struction ofthe sweep-out lip 8 more clearly and the folding of-the link about itshinge pared with the actual angular movement which takesp'lace as thelink traverses the head sprocket 1, as shown in Figure 1. It may benoted, however, that the distance upward from the pivot 3 to theadjacent coupling pivot 2 is considerably less than the distancedownward from the same hinge pivot 3 to the lower coupling pivot 2. Thismakes the sweep'out arm 8 somewhat longer than it would be if the hinge3 were placed exactly midway of the coupling pivots 2, and increases thesweep-out stroke for a given angle of folding of the link.

In connection with/the foregoing, itshould be particularly observed thatthe endless chain is not a built-up afl'air as is common in the priorart, but that the digging buckets and cleaner links form actual links inthe chain. In other words, the buckets them selves constitute anintegral part of the chain. 'It should be further observed that thecoacting shoulders 20 and 21 will maintain the chain from bucklingbetween the rollers on the boom, with the result that the digging ply ofthe chain will always be maintained at its work. It should also be notedthat the short and narrow digging "elements 6 onthe buckets are notdesigned for a scraping action, but on the other hand, produce a millingaction.

While it may be' old to connect a series of conveyor buckets together,I'am not aware of any endless digging chain in which the bucketsconstitute an integral part of the chain and are connected together bycleaner links which provide the traction means in passing over a drivenmember or sprocket wheel, 1 i

I am aware that many changesmay be made, and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purposelimiting the patent :granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a ditching machine, an endless, dig ging chain consisting of aseries' of digging buckets, each having a bottom wall and side walls, acleaner link pivotally connected to the side walls of each bucket, andto the body portion of the next forward bucket in com-- ination with asprocket wheel having smooth portions over which said buckets pass andintermediate traction portions adapted for engaging the under side ofthe cleaner links between the pivotsthereof. j

2. Inaditching machine, an endless digging chain consisting of series ofdigging buckets, each having abe tom wall and side walls, a cleanertween the side walls of each bucket 'to provide a back wall therefor,and each cleaner link being pivotally connectedzto the body portion ofthe next forward bucket, incomlink pivotally connected be' I between thepivots thereof, each cleaner link having an aperture for the escape ofimpacted material between said sprocket wheel'and chain.

3. An endless digging chain consisting of a series of digging. buckets,each having a bottom wall and side-walls, and a cleaner link betweenadjacent buckets, each cleaner link extending between the side walls ofa bucket toward the bottom thereof to form the back wall thereof, apivot for directly connecting each cleaner link to the side walls ofeach bucket and a second pivot spaced from the first pivot connectingsaid cleaner link'to the body portion of the next forward bucket, saidcleaner links and buckets constituting links in the endless chain.

4 An endless digging chain consisting of a series of diggingbuckets,each bucket having a bottom wall and side Walls, a cleaner linkbetween adjacent buckets and extending between the side walls of onebucket to form the back thereof, a pivot for connecting the cleaner linkto the said side walls, and a second pivot spacedfrom the first pivotfor connectingsaid linkto the body portion of the next forward bucket,said cleaner link having an opening adjacent said second pivot for theescape of impacted ma-.

links pivotally connecting adjacent buckets,

said buckets and cleaner links constituting links in the chain, eachcleaner link having a space between its pivots for receiving animpellingdriving means.

7. In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain consisting of aseries of digging uckets and intermediate links having means formingmovable hacks for said buckets,

said buckets and intermediate links being directly-pivotally connectedand constituting links in the digging chgiin, in combination with asprocketwheel having smooth portions over' which said buckets pass, andintermediate teeth adapted for engaging the pivotal connection of eachintermediate link with its forward bucket.

'8. In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain consisting of aseries of digging opening for the exit of impacted materialv betweensaid 'driven member and chain,

9., In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain comprising a seriesof digging buckets, and cleaner links pivotally connect- I ing adjacentbuckets; said links and buck- V to provide a dumping etsconstitutinglinks in the endless chain and each cleaner link being soconstructed as to provide a space rearwardly of itspiv otal connectionwith its forward bucket for receiving an impelling means. v

'10. In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain consisting of aseries of buckets and intermediate cleaner links ivotally connectingadjacent buckets, sa1d links and buckets constituting links in thedigging chain and each cleaner link forming a trac links pivotallyConnected together, each.

tion receiving means whereby said chain may be propelled. v a

11. An endless digging chain consisting of a series of di ging buckets,and intermediate cleaner lin s' pivotally connecting ad- 'jacent,buckets and forming movable back walls for said buckets, said bucketsand cleaner links constituting links in the chain and each bucket and anadjacent cleaner link having co-acting shoulders .to prevent flexing ofthe parts in one direction, the

shoulder on the cleaner link being formed upon the forward end thereof.

' 12. In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain\compri sing aseries of buckets, each bucket having a bottom wall and side walls, a.swingable back between the side walls, pivot means directly connectingthe back and side walls, said swingable back extending forward of theaxis of said pivot platform. 13. An endless digging chain consisting ofa series of digging buckets and intermediate cleaner links pivotallyconnecting adjacent buckets, each bucket havingja bottom wall and sideWalls and each cleaner'link having a direct pivotal connection with theside walls of a bucket and having a tail portion extending between suchside walls to form the back of the bucket, each cleaner link having-alsoa direct pivotal connection with the body portion of .the next forwardbucket, whereby said buckets and links soley constitute'the diggingchain and each cleaner link being constructed to provide entrance for adriven member whereby said chain may be rotated.

14. An endless digging chain consisting I therebetween to form a movableback for such bucket, each cleaner link having also a ,forwar'dlyextending platform with depending parts pivotally connected to a. wallof the next forward bucket, the space between said parts being adaptedfor receiving a driving means. I V

15. 'In an endless. digging chain, a digging bucket comprising a bottomwall provided with digging elements and side walls, a cleaner link, adirect pivotal connection be- .tween said link and said side walls, andsaid cleaner link having 'a portion: extending rearwardly between saidside walls to provide a movable backrfor said bucket, said cleaner linkembodying bearings for pivotal attachment to the next forward bucket andbeing constructed rearwardly of said bearing for receiving a drivingmember.

16. In a ditching machine, a digging belt, comprising bucket members andcleaner link having an opening adjacent its pivotal connection torelease impacted material adjacent the teeth of said sprocket.-

17'. In a ditching machlne, an endless digging chain composed of diggingbuckets and cleaner links pivotally coupled, means for mounting saidchain for traveling in a substantially vertical direction including aboom, rollers upon the working side of said boom, and spaced apart so.that a bucket and an adjacent cleaner link arealways sup- V ported byapair of rollers, said buckets and cleaner links having coactingshoulders for preventing flexing-of the chain between said rollers. v vV r v 18. In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain comprlsingdigging buckets and cleaner links; pivotall connected together andsolely constitut ng the chain, sai buckets and links having coactiveshoulders for preventing reverse flexing of said.chain, and a b00m formaintaining the working ply of said chain at its work, said boom havmg l19. In a ditching mach'ne, a chain section comprising two parts hi'ngedtogether, one

part integrally comprising the bottom and.

side walls of an upwardly and rearwardly open bucket extending fromfitsouter face, the hinge axis being disposed at a distance above the bottomof the bucket and the other part of the chain section-including a backwall for the bucket extending above and. below said hinge axis andbetween said side walls to close the rear opening of the bucket, thebottom of the, bucket being curved concentrically about the hinged axisto permit the lower edge of the back wall to sweep across said curvedbottom when the chain section folds at the hinge as in traversing apulley, said chain section having coupling pivots at its upper and lowerends for attachment to adjacent chain sections and the hinge of the linkbeing nearer to the upper coupling pivot.

20. In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain composed of bucketmembers and cleaner links pivotally coupled for folding in passing overa sprocket wheel, said buckets constituting links in the chain, saidchain being mounted for travel of its working ply in substantiallyvertical direction upwardly, each bucket member having dig gmg meansextending from its front face and supporting means for the chainincluding rollers over which the working ply travels, the rear faces ofthe chain parts have straight portions adapted to track over saidrollers and cooperating means on the ad jacent parts of connected linkslimiting the unfolding movement thereof at the position at which saidstraight portions lie in alinement with each other, the machineincluding a boom on which said rollers are mounted and the rollers beingarranged in staggered relation thereon in transverse rows, the rollersof adjacent rows supporting opposite sides of the chain parts.

21. An endless digging chain consisting of a series of digging buckets,each bucket having abottom wall and side walls, a cleaner link betweenadjacent buckets and extending between the side walls of one bucket toform the back thereof, a pivot rod for connecting the cleaner link tothe said side walls, and a second pivot rod spaced from the first pivotrod for connecting said link to the body portion of the next forwardbucket, in combination with a sprocket wheel over which said diggingchain passes, said sprocket wheel having traction portions for engagingsaid pivot rods for impelling said chain.

22. In a ditching machine, an endless digging chain consisting of aseries of digging buckets and intermediate links having means formingmovable hacks for said buckets, said buckets and intermediate linksbeing directly pivotally connected and constituting links in the diggingchain, in combination with a sprocket wheel having tract-ion portionsfor engaging portions of said digging chain from the under side thereoffor impelling the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Aurora, KaneCounty, Illinois.

HARRY H. BARBER.

